Ts. Dr. Farhan binti Mohd Said is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Chemical and Natural Resources Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA). She is an established researcher in bioprocess engineering, food biotechnology, halal science, and sustainable biocomposites, with nearly two decades of academic, research, and industry-linked experience. Her scholarly work emphasizes waste-to-wealth strategies, functional food development, biopolymer hydrogels, and green processing technologies aligned with sustainability and halal compliance.
Online Profiles
Dr. Farhan maintains an active scholarly presence through ORCID (0000-0003-0737-3486), Scopus Author ID (55934085500; H-index: 13), and Google Scholar (H-index: 14), reflecting consistent publication in high-impact international journals in biotechnology, materials science, and food engineering.
Education
She obtained her PhD in Bioprocess Engineering from Massey University, New Zealand, following a Master of Engineering (Bioprocess) from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and a Bachelor of Technology (Honours) in Food Technology from Universiti Sains Malaysia. She also holds an International Higher Diploma in Food Safety and Halal Operations (EQF Level 5), strengthening her interdisciplinary expertise in halal systems and food process governance.
Research Focus
Her research focuses on bioprocess optimization, solid-state fermentation, microbial pigment production, bioactive compound extraction, sustainable food systems, halal biocomposites, and biopolymer hydrogels for food, biomedical, and packaging applications. She integrates kinetic modeling, response surface methodology, and green solvents to enhance process efficiency and sustainability.
Experience
Dr. Farhan has served UMPSA since 2006 in multiple academic and leadership roles, including lecturer, associate professor, research fellow, program coordinator, and faculty-level academic administrator. Her experience spans undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, curriculum development, research supervision, industrial consultancy, and international academic collaboration.
Research Timeline & Research
Her early research (2011–2015) concentrated on Monascus pigment production and fermentation kinetics, progressing into microalgae-based biofuels, enzymatic bioconversion, and natural product extraction (2016–2020). From 2021 onward, her work expanded into halal biocomposites, gluten-free functional foods, deep eutectic solvents, nanocellulose reinforcement, and chitin-based hydrogels for biomedical and packaging applications.
Research Impact
Her research has significantly contributed to sustainable bioprocessing, halal innovation, and functional biomaterials, evidenced by high citation metrics, industrial adoption, postgraduate completions, and interdisciplinary collaborations. Her findings have influenced food formulation strategies, waste valorization pathways, and biopolymer material design.
Innovation & Intellectual Property
Dr. Farhan’s innovation portfolio includes award-winning products such as gluten-free noodles, natural pigments, vegetarian drug delivery carriers, and waste-derived food and packaging solutions. These innovations have been recognized through multiple gold, silver, and bronze medals at national and international invention expositions.
Research Projects & Funding
She has secured and managed extensive research funding as both Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator from international, national (FRGS, UMP-IIUM-UITM), university, and industrial grants, covering areas such as gluten-free foods, antimicrobial biocomposites, halal systems, microalgae biofuels, and sustainable food packaging.
Conference Contributions
Dr. Farhan is a frequent invited speaker, technical committee member, reviewer, and best-presenter award recipient at international conferences in biotechnology, chemical engineering, sustainability, and halal science, contributing to knowledge dissemination and global academic engagement.
Academic Excellence
Her academic excellence is recognized through repeated Excellent Staff Awards, Bitara Scholar Awards (Gold and Silver), Best Presenter Awards, and publication excellence recognitions from UMPSA, highlighting sustained high-quality research output and academic leadership.
Societal / Industry Contribution
She actively contributes to society and industry through halal competency training, consultancy for food and manufacturing sectors, Fatwa technical advisory roles, community-based training programs, and industry-linked research on waste valorization and sustainable production systems.
Global Recognition
Dr. Farhan’s global recognition is reflected in international collaborations with China, Japan, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia, visiting lecturer appointments, international keynote invitations, and publications in globally indexed journals such as International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Journal of Cleaner Production, and RSC Advances.
Publications
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Li, G., Said, F.M., Liang, J., Li, Y., Jing, Z. (2026). Fabrication of dual physically cross-linked agarose-based double network composite hydrogels with antibacterial and hemostatic properties for infected wound healing. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 337, 149011.
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Zhang, J., Said, F.M., Lv, R., Daud, N.F.S., Jing, Z. (2025). Biocompatible quaternized chitosan-based nanocomposite hydrogels with antibacterial and rapid hemostatic properties. RSC Advances, 15, 30202–30216.
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Oladeji, O.S., Said, F.M., Daud, N.F.S., Adam, F. (2025). Advancing gluten-free noodles development through sustainable and nutritional interventions. Applied Food Research, 5(2), 101209.
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Oladeji, O.S., Said, F.M., et al. (2025). Effect of preservation techniques on phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity of oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus). South African Journal of Botany, 184, 838–848.
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Liang, J., Said, F.M., Xu, X., Guo, S., Li, Y., Jing, Z. (2025). Biodegradable agarose-based double-network composite hydrogels for wound hemostasis. Composites Communications, 58, 102533.
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Okwuwa, C.C., Adam, F., Ries, M.E., Said, F.M. (2025). Carrageenan hard capsules reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals in deep eutectic solvents. Food Biomacromolecules, 2(3), 390–402.
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Daud, N.F.S., Said, F.M., Chisti, Y., Yasin, N.H.M. (2021). Recovery of red pigments from Monascus purpureus FTC 5357: Operational conditions and kinetics. Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology, 64, e21200182.